SAVE THE FUND!

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: january 2018 :: RMTnews 15 The union’s London and Widows and Orphan Fund (LWOF) has been running for over 50 years but it is under threat of closure and needs your help. It was very hard to write that last sentence after being involved in the fund for most of that time. In the past few years the committee has lost five of our active members due to bereavement and I myself have mobility and health problems. The fund was originally set up in the 1950s by the Goods and Cartage side of the NUR Kings Cross No2 branch and the Nine Elms depot with support from the union. It provided little extras to the bereaved families of colleagues who died in service. The NUR supplied names on the national register of those in receipt of the union’s Orphan Fund benefit that lived within a 50 mile radius of London. The LWOF initially provided a seaside trip in the summer and a Christmas party every year. Initially these trips were arranged to travel by bus but in 1965 it was proposed that the outings would be by rail. British Rail was supportive but additional funding was required and a Summer and Christmas raffle was set up. I have never known anyone else but union stalwart Rocky Pearce to organise this activity. In order to feed up to 300 widows and orphans train catering members from East and West Coast lines and Great Western volunteered their time to provide breakfast and dinner on the return journey. An annual buffet was introduced to raise funds and cups and shields were given in recognition of the efforts of individuals who had given their services to the fund. This was supported by operating companies and the Kings Cross branch of ASLEF and our own catering members provided the buffet and bar. Catering members also gave their services to give annual dinners for retired members of several branches. One highlights was an educational trip in 1978 when the divisional manage of Eastern region invited us to travel on the HST 125 to York with the mayor of Camden and a piper in full Highland dress. On arrival at York we were met by the mayor and the York Rail Brass Band who played us into the station bringing the place to a standstill. In 1993 the committee purchased a caravan on the Isle of Sheppey in Kent to give families a short holiday. It also arranged pantomimes and educational trips in the Spring and an outing during the school Summer holidays. Even after rail privatisation many train operating companies continued to support sponsored travel tickets with picnic bags provided by Rail Gourmet Kings Cross. Other highlights were visits to Disney Paris made possible by Mick Lynch and his Eurostar branch members contributing their concessionary travel vouchers. Former RMT member John Helmsley also gave concessions at his hotel on Great Yarmouth. It would be impossible to detail all the activities carried out during my 50 plus years of involvement but it is important that this work continues. In the past couple of years the committee has lost five of our active members due to bereavement. I myself have mobility and health problems together with my loss of contacts in the industry since my retirement so I cannot give the fund the commitment it deserves. It is up to new blood to continue the work of all those who supported the fund in the past. If you can become involved you can contact myself on 07778772113, Wally Levy on 079463075089, Steve Loeber on 07941 053318 or Stuart Cameron in the RMT South East Regional Office without whom I could not have made it this far. SAVE THE FUND! Retired RMT organiser Jim Stevenson calls for assistance to save the London Widows and Orphan Fund